The bill aims to enhance meal and rest break regulations for healthcare workers in Washington hospitals, recognizing the importance of these breaks for both employee well-being and patient safety. It introduces a new section that emphasizes the need for clear scheduling and taking of breaks, particularly in light of the increasing prevalence of longer work shifts in the healthcare sector. The bill amends RCW 49.12.480 to ensure that employers provide uninterrupted meal and rest breaks, with specific provisions for unforeseeable circumstances. It also allows for the combination of meal and rest periods under mutual agreement between employers and employees, while ensuring that any such agreement can be revoked at any time.

Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions regarding the waiver of meal and rest periods, allowing employees to voluntarily waive certain breaks under specific conditions, provided that the waiver is documented and agreed upon in advance. Employers are required to maintain records of missed breaks and submit quarterly reports to the Department of Labor and Industries detailing missed and waived breaks. The bill specifies that these reporting requirements will not apply to certain hospitals until July 1, 2026, and establishes an effective date for the act as January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 49.12.480
Substitute Bill: 49.12.480
Bill as Passed Legislature: 49.12.480